Knife



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KiJIFE Filed Sept. 29, 1943 I l/ 7 7 j Z I 5 BE: 1

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Patented July 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PAT T FA Application September 29,1943, Serial No. 504,515

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a knife, and particularly to a knife of thedagger type, such as a combat knife or hunter knife, or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a dagger type knife with ahandle construction which locates the center of gravity of the entireknife well within that portion of the handle which is gripped in thepalm of the hand, and which facilitates the control and manipulation ofthe knife blade as well as permits the use of the handle end of theknife as a bludgeon or for cracking or hitting an object.

Another object of this invention is to provide a knife of the characterdescribed which is highly useful and simple in construction. Convenienceof arrangement, lightness and comparative inexpense of manufacture arefurther objects which have been borne in mind in the production anddevelopment of the invention.

It will be understood that various changes in the details and materialsof construction may be made without departing from the spirit or scopeof the invention as defined by the appended claims.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description, reference is had to theaccompanying drawing for the illustrative embodiments of the invention,wherein:

Fig. l is a side view of a knife constructed in accordance with myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the handle portion of the knife.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental, sectional view of a modified form of myinvention.

Knives of the dagger type now used in combat, or by hunters are soproportioned and balanced that the blade portion of the knife is muchheavier than the handle portion. The center of gravity of such a knifeis usually Well within the blade, and frequently at about thelongitudinal center or middle of knife, on about the broken line X shownin Fig. 1. When such knife is manipulated or handled with the speedrequired in self defense or danger the blade has a tendency to resist byits inertia the hand action and its controlling movement. Anotherdisadvantage of a knife of the type heretofore used is that the knifebecomes totally useless for anything if the blade breaks. Inasmuch assuch knives are used in fighting at close quarters the breaking of theblade leaves the combatant without any weapon whatever.

These and other disadvantages of the knives heretofore used are obviatedby my invention.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a blade I of the pointed ordagger type. From the thicker base 2 of this blade I extends a stem 3.In the herein illustration the stem 3 has a flat side to preventrotation of the handle on it. On the stem 3 is mounted a handle 4 soformed as to comfortably fit into the palm of the hand. Between the base2 of the blade I and the adjacent end of the handle 4 is secured asuitable hand guard 5.

The stem 3 has a shoulder 6 formed thereon in substantial registry withthe free end 1 of the handle 4. A reduced end 8 extends from this stemshoulder 6 and beyond the free end I of the handle 4. A counterweight 9is held on this reduced end 8 in any suitable manner, for example byflaring the outer. end ID of the reduced stem end 8 so as to press thebase of the counterweight 9 against the free end I of the handle 4.

In the modified embodiment shown in Fig. 3 the counterweight is formedby a suitable outer shell H loaded with a heavier filler material l2,such as lead or the like.

The counterweight is of such shape that it conveniently fits against theside of the hand outside of the palm and aids in holding the knifeagainst slipping out of the palm. In this illustration the exteriorshape of the counterweights is substantially that of a spherical ballwith a flat flange base bearing against the free end of the handle. Theweight of the counterweight is so proportioned with respect to theweight of the blade that the handle is loaded well Within the outermostend of the handle, namely, between the middle of the handle and its freeend. The middle line of the handle, which is at about the onefourth ofthe length of the knife with respect to the free end of the handle isindicated by a broken line Y in Fig. 1. The center of gravity of theknife is in the one-fourth area between the line Y and the outer or freeend of the handle. This balance assures full control of the knife withinthe palm of the hand of the user and facilitates direction andmanipulation of the knife. If the blade breaks, the handle portion isstill useful as a bludgeon because the counterweight can be used withbludgeoning effect for striking and hitting with the fist closed. Thiscounterweight may be used thus even when the blade is intact forcracking or breaking or hammering any object as the occasion mayrequire.

I claim:

1. A knife of the character described comprising, a blade, a stemextended from the blade, a handle on the stem, and a bludgeon typecounterweight on the stem adjacent the free end of the handle, theweight and location of said counterweight being so proportioned to theblade that the center of gravity of said knife is in said handle.

2. A knife of the character described, comprising a blade, a stemextended from the base of. the blade, a handle on said stem, a guardbetween said handle and the base of the blade, and

a bludgeon type counterweight on the end of the stem at the other end ofthe handle, said counterweight and said blade being relatively soproportioned that the center of gravity of said knife is within thehandle and spaced from said guard.

3. A knife of the character described comprising, a blade, a stemextended from the base of the blade, a handle on said stem, and abludgeon type counterweight on the end of the stem at the free end ofthe handle being so proportioned relatively to said blade that thecenter of gravity of the knife is Within the half of the handle farthestfrom the base of the blade.

LOUIS SILVER.

